BROOKLYN, NY – The club’s first team (1-0-0, 3 points) opens up at their new home at Poly Prep Country Day School on Tuesday evening, May 14 at 8:30 p.m. as the Rush of Cedar Stars Academy (0-1-0, 0 points) travel to Brooklyn for their second road game of the season. The first team achieved their second season opening shutout victory against Evergreen in the previous three seasons with a 2-0 victory. The Cedar Stars Rush fell to the Long Island Rough Riders on Saturday by a subsequent score of 2-0 as well at Hofstra. The first team recorded 13 shots in total with a pair of goals coming from Filippo Tamburini and Karamba Janneh in the second half of the contest over the weekend. A pair of returning players from the 2018 roster in Adam Marcu and Sunatillo Khusanov look to don the navy and yellow for the first time this season on Tuesday evening.
SCOUTING THE RUSH:
A flurry of tri-state area players have joined together to form the newly created eighth team in the Mid-Atlantic Division. Led by head coach Anthony Nixon, the team features some of Fairleigh Dickinson’s best Knights that include Valentino Ambrosio, Noah Chia, and Anthony Herbert. The team will also be playing their home matches on the college’s respective field. The MAAC conference continues to shine throughout the roster that includes Marist’s Ernest Mitchell, Fairfield’s Joseph Meyer, Saint Peter’s University’s own Michael Crenstil and Jason Dubrovich.
LAST TIME OUT:
The team began the contest with five players returning to the first team including Conor McGlynn, Johan Mauritzson, Sunatillo Khusanov, Robi Sillah, and Alexis Santa. The aforementioned Santa began the contest with a wide-open breakaway that was an opportunity spoiled by the opponent’s defender. Multiple chances from both squads came first from midfielder Phillip Atbashyan with the turn of the tenth minute of regulation. Just a few minutes following the odd man rush from the former NYIT product, Canisius product Fillipo Tamburini was taken down by defender A.J. Sheta that led to a free-kick by former PDL forward Nicolo Baudo, who resumed his USL League Two career last night after a four-year hiatus. Chances continued to come for both squads as Bryant and Stratton’s Babacarr Ceesay came up with a pair of saves to keep the score at nil. Just prior to the first half concluding, defender Tommaso Davico attempted a free kick that sailed directly into the knees of the opposition. Two moments into the second half, Evergreen made a costly mistake that turned into a visiting team goal for Filippo Tamburini as Alexis Santa stole and passed to the Italian native for the wide-open net. Returning veteran Robi Sillah, and highly touted Gambian native Karamba Janneh were thrown into the limelight that featured a goal from Janneh from the right side of the box in extra time in the second half. Three yellow cards were issued during the match for Johan Mauritzson, Nicolo Baudo, and Marcus Gabrielli. Highly touted Babacarr Ceesay recorded a shutout during his USL debut.
A NEW HOME AWAITS:
The first team will also begin play at their third home in as many years when they make their long-awaited debut from Poly Prep Country Day School on Tuesday evening, May 14 when the club welcomes the Cedar Stars Rush. The field is adjacent to the U.S. Army base, Fort Hamilton with the Verrazano Narrows Bridge in clear view of the playing field. The previous pair of homes included St. John’s University’s Belson Stadium, and Aviator Sports and Event Center at Floyd Bennett Field in Marine Park.
UP NEXT:
The club’s first team returns to action on Saturday, May 18 when they welcome the Nor’Easters of Ocean City for an 8:30 p.m. kickoff from Poly Prep Country Day School. The contest will be streamed live on I-95 Sports and Entertainment Network, and will be simulcast on YouTube.com/FAEuro.